Grappling device



Nov. 6, 1951 M. G. MURRAY El AL 2,573,867

GRAPPLING DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 I: J .I I v Ifia/co/m G N Q? CV70 Rod/2g M Pol-tel M. G. MURRAY AL GRAPPLING DEVICENov. 6, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Jan, 13, 1948 gwuwwbo'b Malcolm G.Nu/v'qy and Rodney M Porter i atented Nov. 6, 195i GRAPPLING DEVICEMalcolm o. Murray, Ellwood City, and" Rodney W. Porter, Zelienople, Pa.

Application January 13, 1948, Serial No. 2,028

. 1 This invention-relates to a grappling device for handling objects'andmore particularly to such a device for handling elongated tubes/andthe like.

During the processing of certain materials it is sometimes necessary tomove the material from one stage of processing to another. A lift hoistor similar device is usually employed to accomplish such movement.Little diificulty is encountered when the material to be transferred canbe easily reached and'is of such a nature that it can be readily engagedby the lift hoist by relatively simple means, such as a chain sling,hook, magnet, cable, etc. Frequently the material to be transferred isin such a location and is of such a nature that its handling cannot beaccomplished with facility usingthe conventional apparatus, for example,the transfer of elongated metal tubes from a coating tank to a bakingchamber. Currently this handling is done by hooking a lift hoist to aholder which holds a cluster of tubes suspended vertically, After beingwithdrawn from the coating dip tank the cluster is attached to a hoistby inserting the hoist hook into a ring which projects from the top ofthe 5 Claims. (01. 294-106) elevated holder and is thus carried to thebake an obstruction. This is, of course, unsafe and undesirable.

An object of our invention is to provide a grappling device for handlingobjects that is simple and rugged in construction.

Another object of our invention is to'provide such a device that can beattached to a load from a remote position.

It is another object of our invention to provide such a device thatcannot be accidentally disengaged once it is attached to a load.

Still another object of our invention is to provide such a grapplingdevice that will be relatively simple to operate in a safe, foolproofman ner.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side view of apparatus embodying the grappling device ofour invention;

Figure 2 is a partial plan view of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line III-III of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the pin depressed and thefinger member disengaged.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2indicates a cone-shaped member rigidly attached to a holder 4 from whicha number of tubes are suspended vertically. The tube cluster is shown inFigure 1 being withdrawn from the dip tank 8 by means of elevator [0which is operated by means of cables l2. Hoist l4, operated by controlbuttons It at the end of control cable i1, is mounted on tramrail l8.Suspended from hoist I4 is a vertically slotted bell-shaped member ill.The inner surface 22 of bell-shaped member 26 slopes at an angle ofapproximately 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane thereofand is adapted to fit slidingly over the corresponding outer surface 24of cone member 2 which surface also slopes at an angle of approximately60 degrees with respect to the same horizontal plane. Verticallyextending hookshaped finger members 25 are pivotally mounted in the fourslots 28 of bell member 20 by means of bearing pins 30 which carrywashers 32. The bearing pins 3-5 are inserted into the openings 34 whichare machined in slots 28 and are held in place by cotter pins 35. Thefinger members 26 have hook-ends 38 which are inclined upwardly,preferably at an angle of 15 degrees, and are adapted to fit into grooveMl around the base of cone member 2. The upper surface 52 of groove 40is undercut preferably at a similar angle 44 of approximately 15 degreesto insure a secure hold for the hook-ends 38. A bolt 48 is insertedthrough the hole 46 in the top of bell member 20 With its head below theinside upper surface of bell member 26). and its shaft 54 extendingupwardly therefrom. Mounted around the shaft 54 adjacent its upper endis an internally screwthreaded trunnion member 55 with lugs 52projecting therefrom for attaching to the pulley of hoist l4. Resting ina slight concavity in the inside upper surface of the bell member 20 andaround the shaft 54 of bolt 48 adjacent its head is a thrust bearing 55,A cylindrical spacing bushing 58 is provided around the extending shaft54 intermediate the trunnion member and the outer top surface 68 of bellmember 20. Trunnion 58 is held in position by means of a cotter pin 62,which passes through aligned openings in the sides of trunnion 50 andshaft 54. The head portion of each finger member 26 is designed with alug 64 projecting inwardly therefrom. When mounted, the lugs 64 arepositioned subjacent to the holes which are machined through the top ofthe bell member 20. An annu- 3 lar plate 68 is centered around bushing58 above bell member 20. Fixed in plate 68 and extending therefrom intoholes 66 are four release rods 10 whose lengths are sufficient todepress the lugs 64 and thereby pivot the finger members outwardly whenplate 68 is depressed.

The device of our invention is shown in Figure 1 in position for hookingup a tube holder 4 used in the resinous coating of the tubes which aresuspended from holder 4. The tube cluster 6 is lowered into the dippingtank 8 by means of the overhead traveling hoist l4. The hoist I4 is thenunhooked and the holder 4 and the cluster 6 which it holds are liftedout of the clipping tank 8 at a relatively slow uniform speed by meansof an elevator I until the tubes are completely withdrawn. It is thennecessary to attach the hoist l4 again in order to move the tube cluster6 laterally so that it may be lowered into an adjacent baking oven (notshown). Our invention permits this attachment to be readily accomplishedfrom the fioor by lowering the bell member 20 until it looks on the conemember 2. With the conventional hook it would be necessary for theoperator to climb a ladder in order to effect the hook up. It isunsatisfactory to allow the tubes to remain hooked up while they arebeing raised by the elevator H] as the slack cable does not follow thegrooves of hoist l4 and is, therefore, subject to uneven wear.

In operation, after the tube cluster 6 is raised from the dip tank 8 bymeans of the elevator H), the hoist l4 lowers the bell member 20 toengage cone member 2. When the bell member 20 is lowered on the cone 2,the hook-ends 38 of finger members 26 slide along the sloping surface24, swinging out as required, until they reach the groove 46 where theyswing inwardly by gravity. When the bell member 28 is raised from itslowest position, the hook-ends 38 engage the undercut surface 42 of thegroove 40 and the load is then in a position to be carried. The undercutof surface 42 prevents disengagement of the fingers While a load isbeing held suspended.

When the load has been transferred to its destination and is at rest, inthe bake oven below the surface of the mill floor, the bell member maybe released by lowering it to its lowest position and depressing theannular plate 68 by hand or by any other suitable means. This causes therods 10 to bear down on lugs 64 which forces the fingers 26 to swingoutwardly until the hook-ends clear the cone 2. While the fingers are inthis position, the bell member 20 is hoisted out of contact with thecone member 2 and the release is completed. The finger members 26 swingback to the original hanging position shown in Figure 3 as soon as thepressure on the release rods 10 is removed.

While one embodiment of our invention has been shown and described, itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A grappling device for handling objects comprising a bell-shapedmember having vertical slots and adapted to be carried by a liftinghoist, a plurality of vertically extending finger members havinginwardly extending hook-ends pivotally mounted in the slots of said bellmember, lugs projecting inwardly from the head portions of said fingermembers, a cone member for supporting the objects to be handled, saidcone member adapted to fit within said bell-shaped member, the conemember having a groove around its base to receive the hook-ends of saidfinger members, and positive means for engaging said lugs to disengagesaid hook-ends from the groove in said cone member.

2. A grappling device for handling objects comprising a bell-shapedmember having vertical slots and adapted to be carried by a liftinghoist, a plurality of vertically extending finger members havinginwardly extending hook-ends pivotally mounted in the slots of said bellmember, lugs projecting inwardly from the head portions of said fingermembers, a cone member adapted to be attached to the objects to behandled, said cone member adapted to fit within said bellshaped member,the cone member having a groove around its base to receive the hook-endsof said finger members, and means for disengaging said hook-ends fromthe groove in said cone member, said means consisting of a plurality ofvertical release rods extending downwardly through holes in the top ofsaid bell member to said lugs, and a plate member above said bell memberfor depressing said release rods. 7

3. A grappling device for handling objects comprising a bell-shapedmember having vertical slots and adapted to be carried by a liftinghoist, a plurality of vertically extending finger members havinginwardly extending hook-ends pivotally mounted in the slots of said bellmember, lugs projecting inwardly from the head portions of said fingermembers, a cone member adapted to be attached to the objects to behandled, said cone member adapted to fit within said bellshaped member,the cone member having a groove around its base to receive the hook-endsof said finger members, the upper surface of said groove being undercut,the upper surfaces of the hook-ends of said finger members beinginclined upwardly, and positive means for engaging said lugs todisengage said hook-ends from the groove in said cone member.

4. A grappling device for handling objects comprising a bell-shapedmember having vertical slots and adapted to be carried by a liftinghoist, a plurality of vertically extending finger members havinginwardly extending hook-ends pivotally mounted in the slots of said bellmember, lugs projecting inwardly from the head portions of said fingermembers, a cone member adapted to be attached to the objects to behandled, said cone member adapted to fit within said bellshaped member,the cone member having a groove around its base to receive the hook-endsof said finger members, the upper surface of said groove being undercut,the upper surfaces of the hook-ends of said finger members beinginclined upwardly, and means for disengaging said hookends from thegroove in said cone member, said means consisting of a plurality ofvertical release rods extending downwardly through holes in the top ofsaid bell member to said lugs, and a plate member above said bell memberfor depressing said release rods.

5. A grappling device for handling objects comprising a bell-shapedmember having vertical slots and adapted to be carried by a liftinghoist, the inner side surfaces of said bell member having an angle ofslope of approximately 60 degrees, a plurality of vertically extendingfinger members having inwardly extending hook-ends pivotally mounted inthe slots of said bell member, lugs projecting inwardly from the headportions of said finger members, a cone member adapted to be attached toobjects to be handled, said cone member adapted to fit within saidbell-shaped member, the outer surfaces of said cone member having anangle of slope of approximately 60 degrees to conform with the angle ofslope of the inner side surfaces of said bell member, said cone memberhaving a groove around its base to receive the hook-ends of said fingermembers, the upper surface of said groove being undercut, the uppersurfaces of the hook-ends of said finger members being inclinedupwardly, means for disengaging said hook-ends from said groove in thecone member, said means consisting of a plurality of vertical releaserods extending downwardly through holes in the top of said bell memberto REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Steiger Oct. 25, 1927 Number

